Accounting machine



March 2, 1937. Q L, HAYES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1928 3Sheets-Sheet 1 I KXQmnmtoz We 7 a March 2, 1937. c. L. HAYES ACCOUNTINGMACHINE Filed May 9 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I awventoz 25M K /Z a 35 a GHQ01401;;

March 2, 1937.

C. L. HAYES ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1923 Hun,

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 COMPLE MENT ooooooo lllllll Patented Mar. 2, 1937UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCOUNTING MACHINE poration of New YorkApplication May 9, 1928, Serial No. 276,214

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of. accounting and moreparticularly is concerned with a novel method and apparatus foreffecting subtraction.

5 In accordance with the usual method of per forming subtractingoperations numbers to be subtracted are entered in the accumulators asthe complemental or co-digital equivalent, usually the nines complementof the number to be subtracted 10 and then the fugitive unit? is addedto obtain the tens or true complement.

By the present method it is proposed to obtain the nines complementof-all figures and then enter the corrective unit or the fugitive unitau- 35 tomatically and without attention of the operator to provide thetens or true complement.

In carrying out the present invention a special accumulator wheel isconnected for simultaneous movement with one 01! the driving wheelswhich receives an operation corresponding to the highest registration,which, in the present machine is 9", but the ratio of gearing betweenthe wheels is so selected that the special wheel receives a greatermovement to effect the entry or the unit 25 in the required accumulatorwheel by the regular transfer mechanism. Suitable connections areprovided whereby the control for the driving wheel may be selected atwill to enter the fugitive unit in the accumulator wheel of the units 30order to thereby correct the wheel of the first significant figure ofthe subtrahend.

The general object then resides in the new and improved means ofentering the fugitive unit" in the desired accumulator wheelautomatically 35 in combination with selecting means whereby the properentry operations may be effected for each of the subtracting operations.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter pointed out in thefollowing description 40 which should be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings which show, by way of example, a preferredembodiment of the invention.

In the drawings hereto annexed:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the 45 accumulator to whichthe present improvements are applied;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of. the same, the upper side of the casingbeing omitted;

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of. the preferred 50 system showing the useof a plurality of accumulators for accumulating items and the plugconnection for one of the accumulators when it is used for subtractingoperations for automatically entering the fugitive unit;

55 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary portion of a regular Hollerith tabulatingcard showing one of the card fields punched to represent the ninescomplement of a number;

Fig. 5 discloses the special wheel and the connections for operating thelatch of the transfer mechanism provided for the units wheel. The latchis shown in the position necessary prior to the transfer operation whichis effected under control of the special wheel disclosed in thisflglllB;

Fig. 6 discloses the units wheel, its operating ratchet wheel and therelated transfer mechanism which is shown set for a transfer operation,

Referring to Fig. 3, this diagram illustrates two accumulators A and Beach associated in a. single instrument, accumulator A being shown ashaving eight accumulator magnets, denoted generally by referencecharacter I. Each of the instruments designated by the letters A and Bis assumed to be such an instrument as is shown in Fig. 1 and upon whichthe improvements hereinafter to be set forth are to be based.

The perforated cards are passed between a series of individual brushes 2(Fig. 3) and common contact 3 and when any card is passed into positionunder the brushes it is assumed to engage a lever 4 and bring togethertwo contacts 5.

Assuming that the machine is started in operation and supplied withcards which are moved in series under the brushes, then at a time when acard is just starting its movement a cam 6 cperated by the machinecloses. contacts 1 and thus the circuit from the right terminal of thesupply current C is made through closed contacts I, contacts 5 which arenow together, the motor control relay magnet ID, the accumulator controlrelay 9, the control circuit Ii to the left terminal of the currentsupply C.

When any brush 2 comes over a hole punched in the card, a path for thecurrent is established 40 from the source of current C through itscorresponding accumulator magnet I and through the circuit I2 by meansof contacts 9a which have been closed by the accumulator control relay9, through the closed contacts I and to the opposite terminal of thesource of supply C.

The above description covers, it is assumed, all that is necessary to anunderstanding of the motor control circuits and accumulator controlcircuits and as the above described portions of the apparatus are wellknown in the prior art, it is believed that no further description isnecessary.

The particular mechanisms or devices which control the entering of theitems into the accumulators as controlled by the index point perfora- 5tions are wall known in the art but in order to afford a betterunderstanding of the present improvements. a general statement of theoperation and the particular mechanisms utilized will be describedgenerally but for a more complete understanding, reference may be had tothe patent of C. D. Lake No. 1,307,740, patented June 24, 1919.

As a general statement of operation it may be said that two shafts 21and 30 (Fig. 1) make one revolution for each cycle or revolution of thetabulator or index wheel of the card manipulating device. The instant ineach cycle therefore that a perforation indicating a given number comesunder a brush the perforation will determine the point in the revolutionthat a clutch will be thrown into gear with its indicating character oraccumulator wheel and this will determine the number of steps or spacesthat that wheel will be turned corresponding to such number.

As more fully explained in the patent to C. D. Lake above referred to,the control circuit throws into operative condition and there locks itthe means which causes the corresponding accumulator registering wheelto move through an are proportional to the number represented by theposition of the perforation in the card and breaks the accumulatormagnet circuit at the contacts l3 (Fig. 3) before the brush leaves theperforation and thus sparking at the brush is avoided. The controlcircuit, however, remains closed until broken by a cam H.

The accumulator mechanism of each unit, A or B, is contained in a casingl5 and is shown for accumulator A as having eight accumulator magnets Iand a suitable corresponding number of index or register wheels it. Foreach magnet there is a vertical bar or rod I'I (Fig. 1) pivoted in theframe and carrying an armature l8 facing the magnet poles so that on theenergization of any magnet I its corresponding rod I! will be partiallyrotated against the force of a spring I9. This movement of the armaturel8 releases a clutch lever 20 which is normally latched but whenreleased is free to be moved sidewise about its pivotal point 23 by fiatsprings 24 which bear upon insulating stops 25 on said lever.

The levers 20 at their forward ends engage with the grooves of slidingclutches 26 mounted on and turning with shaft 21 which is driven bymeans of a gear wheel 28 in gear with a spur gear 29 on the driven shaft30. These clutches 26 at one side have teeth that are carried intoengagement by the shifting of the levers 20 with corresponding teeth 3!on gear wheels 32 free on the shaft 21 and in gear with wheels 33attached to the index wheels Hi.

When subtraction of amounts is desired on a tabulating machine of thetype shown in the Lake Patent 1,307,740, it is customary in machines ofthe type shown in this patent to add the tens complement of the numberto be subtracted. This sometimes necessitates punching a card with thetens complement of a given number. In arriving at the tens complement ofa given number in the decimal systems of notation, only herein involved,it is necessary to complement the first right hand significant figure (awhole number, other than zero) to 10 and all other figures except thezeros to the right thereof to 9. As the first right hand significantfigure is not always in the units position but is sometimes in the tens,hundreds, thousands or other positions, this is confusing to theoperator of the card perforating machine who must not only remember tomake the subtraction of the first significant figure from 10 and then tochange to 9 for all others, except the zeros to the right thereof, butmust observe carefully in what position the first significant figure is.

For example, in designating the number 32,284 as the tens complement itwill be observed that 4 in this number is the first significant figure,and where the corrective unit is automatically inserted by the presentinvention the card in a seven column field is punched 9967715 otherwiseto correct it by the operator, it would have to be punched as 9967716.

Now if the number should be 32,200, without automatic correction,punching in a seven column field is as follows: 9967800, and here ineffect only the 2 is changed to the tens complement as it is the firstsignificant figure. When automatic correction is supplied by means nowto be explained all digits are punched as the nines complement of 32,200or 9967799. The diflerence is a unit in the units order in parallelexamples. In using the nines complement the deficiency in the presentmachine is made up under control of a wheel receiving a 9 entry for eachsubtraction operation.

To obviate this source ,of confusion previously mentioned, it isproposed to have the operator complement every figure to 9 thus punchinga nines complement on the card which, as stated, will be one unit lessthan the tens complement. To compensate for the loss of the unit it isproposed to have the present transfer mechanism automatically add theadditional one to the units order, to change in effect, the ninescomplement of the first right significant figure of the subtrahend to atens complement, which additional one is termed the fugitive unit." Thusif the number 322 is to be subtracted, the nines complement is 9999677,of a seven column card field (see Fig. 4), and the fugitive unit must beadded to the latter number to obtain the tens complement 9999678.

In carrying out a subtracting operation of the example cited thetabulating card 40 (Fig. 4) is perforated to represent 9999677 one lessthan the tens complement. As the card passes into the machine the numberrepresented by the card perforations will be entered on the sevenaccumulator wheels Ilia-I69, the sub-script "a" representing the unitswheel, b" the tens, etc., the wheel l6h at'the extreme left representingan overflow wheel which is not associated with any card controllingcolumn. By plug connections 4| the brushes 2 are associated with theseven card controlling columns designated "Complement to control themagnets la to lg corresponding to accumulator wheels I6a to I6g.

To enter the fugitive unit, the present machine, as will now bedescribed in detail, includes an accumulator wheel "is which isconnected for operation in such a manner that it receives sufiicientmovement during each subtracting operation by the complemental method toset for operation the transfer mechanism of the units order wheel l6awhich effects the entry of the desired unit to the units wheel and, ifnecessary, effects successive transfers to enter the unit in the wheelof the order related to the first significant figure of the subtrahend.

From the card shown in Fig. 4, it will be noted that all of the fourextreme left columns are punched to cause the entry of 9 in each order.One of such columns, preferably the extreme left column of thecontrolling card field, is so selected that its related accumulatorwheel l6g turns nine steps for each complemental subtracting operation.This column, by reason of the proper capacity of the accumulator, is ofsuch a denomination that the result of an additive entry is notrepresented on the related accumulator wheel I 69. Hence, for eachsubtraction operation, as the related column is punched 9, the relatedwheel 16g turns nine steps.

To carry out the invention one of the card columns (not used in theadditive entry) must be selected to control the entry of the nineregistration for each subtraction operation and as there is alreadyappropriated in the accumulator unit an accumulator wheel it for suchcolumn, such wheel is turned nine steps each time if plugged by plugconnection 4| for control thereof. This explanation is merely made so asto understand that there is a nine entry under control of the brush 2related to the card column of the extreme left and when such column is 9punched. Now, by means of a plug connection 42 the analyzing brush 2related to the selected card column (of the card columns not used in theadditive entry) is plugged to cause energization of the adding magnet is(Fig. 3). Magnet is is adapted to control a clutch like the accumulatorcontrol clutches so that a gear Sis, rotatable by one of the clutchelements will turn nine steps, equivalent to the extent of rotation ofwheel ifig.

It is pointed out that by the plug connection 42 any card columnselected can effect the desired rotation of nine units to gear 3ls, butin every case the card column selected should be of such a denominationthat its related accumulator wheel does not represent the result of anadditive entry. The selection is dependent upon'the magnitude of theadditive entries.

Gear 3ls meshes with a pinion 33s which is rotatable with the wheel I58.The ratio of gearing 3 I s-33s is such that nine-tenths of a revolutionof gear Sis will drive pinion 33s a complete revolution.

As wheel lfis completes its revolution, under the conditions justdescribed, the high tooth 43 (Fig. of a ratchet wheel 8 connected towheel He will engage the cam surface of a pawl 45s rocking pawl 45s onits pivot a sufficient distance so that a pin 46 carried thereby willpress a latch member 41 to release a notch formed therein fromengagement with a lug 48 integral with the arm 49 (Fig. 6) which carriesthe pawl 45a. for operating the ratchet wheel 44a attached to the unitsorder wheel 3a.

This releasing action causes a spring 50 (Fig. 6) to rock the arm 49 tobring it adjacent a common operating bar 52 which, when actuated, willcause pawl 45a engaging the ratchet wheel a of the units order wheel toturn such wheel one step or a units amount to enter the fugitive unit.The above described transfer mechanism is fully described in theHollerith Patent 974,272, and therefore, only generally describedherein.

As stated, it will be obvious that wheel its may be plugged for movementunder control of any of the other card columns punched 9 whensubtracting by shifting plug connection 42.

If the units or other orders of the subtrahend do not comprisesignificant figures as in the number 32200, punched as the ninescomplement 9967799 the units order will receive a unit correction and asthe units order wheel passes through zero it will efiect a transfer tothe tens order, and the latter in turn, will control a transfer to thehundreds order. The usual transfer mechanism described in Patent 974,272accomplishes such transfers by transfers. Hence the correction isultimately made in the order in which the first significant figure ofthe subtrahend resides, which in the example discussed would be thehundreds order.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a machine for accumulating data, a series of accumulating elementsof different denominational orders, corresponding denominationallyordered entry controlling devices, means for causing the latter toeifect an entry of a nines complement in said accumulating elements, andmeans whereby a device of the highest efiective order when it controlsthe entry of a digit of highest value causes the entry of an additionalunit into the accumulating element of the units denominational order foreach complement entry.

2. In a machine of the class described, a series of denominationallyordered accumulator elements, corresponding denominationally orderedentry controlling devices, m'eans for causing the latter to effect theentry of a nines complement in said accumulator elements, meanscontrolled by a device of the highest eflective order when it controlsthe entry of a digit of highest value for efiecting an additional entryin the units accumulator element for each complement entry, and meansfor selectively and operatively associating any device of the highesteffective order with the last-named means for control thereby.

3. In a machine of the class described, a series of denominationallyordered accumulator elements, transfer mechanism for each element,corresponding denominationally ordered entry controlling devices, meansfor causing the latter to eflect the entry of a nines complement in saidaccumulator elements, and means operated under control of a device ofthe highest effective order when it controls the entry of a digit ofhighest value for adjusting the transfer mechanism for the units orderwhereby a unit entry is made into the units order accumulator elementfor each entry of a complement.

4. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator comprising aseries of denominationally ordered accumulator elements, correspondingdenominationally ordered entry controlling devices, means under controlof the latter for effecting the entry of a nines complement in saidelements, a supplemental element, means under control of a device of thehighest effective order when it controls the entry of a digit of highestvalue for causing the latter to be operated for each entry of acomplement, and means whereby said supplemental element when operatedcauses the entry of a unit into the units order element of saidaccumulator.

5. In a machine of the class described, an accumulator comprising aplurality of elements, a set of entry controlling devices, means forcausing the latter to effect the entry of a nines complement in saidelements, means under control of a device of the highest eifective orderwhen it controls the entry of a digit of highest value for causing asupplemental element to be operated for each entry of a complement,means whereby the operation of said supplemental element causes theentry of a unit into the units order element of said accumulator, andmeans for selectively and operatively associating the second-named meanswith any device of highest effective order controlling the highestentry.

6. In a machine of the class described, a series of accumulatorelements, devices for controlling entries 01' a nines complement in saidelements, a special element, means for causing the latter to be operatedunder control or a device of highest efl'ective order when a complementis entered, and means whereby said special element effects the entry 01'a unit into the units order accumulator adapted to control the enteringof a corrective unit into the units order accumulator element, and meanswhereby the last-named means causes the entering of said correctiveunit.

8. In a machine oi! the class described, a registering element, acorrective unit entry element, an operating means for said correctiveunit entry element, means for causing the latter to be operated adefinite amount for a complement entry operation, means to effect anoperation of the corrective unit entry element by said operating meansto an amount in excess of the amount imparted to the operating means,and means whereby the operation of the corrective unit entry elementcauses a unit entry in said registering element.

CLARKE L' HAYES.

